James Tavernier was involved in a heated exchange with Jack Butland as Motherwell took the lead at Hampden today in the semi-final of the League Cup.
When Andy Halliday scores a goal against the Ibrox Tribute Act there are clearly problems in defence with Jefte probably the main culprit as he raced away from the six yard box to allow the Super Scoreboard pundit to open the scoring.
As usual a free cross came in from the right where Tavernier should be, Butland refused to leave his line with Halliday just having to steer the ball goalwards to put his employers ahead.
On Friday Tav told a media conference that he thought that he had been playing well this season, Butland didn’t agree with that view with television viewers picking up on their heated exchange.
Moment Rangers stars James Tavernier and Jack Butland clash in heated Hampden exchangehttps://t.co/uy2DnCQdQN
— Scottish Sun Sport (@scotsunsport) November 3, 2024
The Sun reports:
The right-back was hooked on 67 minutes, with Rangers still level with Motherwell at the time, before going on to win 2-1.
And Tavernier had sparked anger from Gers supporters in the stands with a first-half dispute with Jack Butland.
The skipper and his vice-captain had it out with each other as their side trailed, drawing boos from the Rangers support.
Tavernier’s frustration was only increased as Philippe Clement replaced him with Dijon Sterling with the score still 1-1.
Furious Butland and Tavernier embroiled in Rangers ding dong as suffering skipper’s role called out on live TV👀
https://t.co/1Hx6lPyN12 pic.twitter.com/jaDG39XWOq— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) November 3, 2024
At the end of last season it was widely predicted that Tavernier would be leaving Ibrox but with two years to run on a lucrative contract and a Testimonial Match due at the start of next season his departure was far from guaranteed.
Back in June the Daily Record jumped the gun claiming that the former Wigan ace would be losing the captaincy with Butland taking over.
The initial story was quickly watered down but it was another attempt to get Tavernier off the wage bill as the club pushed to find savings of £10m a year.
Through until the middle of September the Record was desperately trying to get Steven Gerrard to bid to take his former skipper to Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League.
While clubs were found for Sam Lammers and Connor Goldson there were no takers for Tavernier who is now into his 10th season at Ibrox. Not even on a free transfer with a wages subsidy for the two years left on his Ibrox deal.
Midway through the second half today Clement substituted the club captain, that move seemed very popular with fans at Hampden with the spotlight now on Thursday’s team news and whether the Belgian Beale starts with the team that finished at Hampden, avoiding further embarrassment with a 2-1 victory.
Even Josh Barrie of the on-message Rangers Review covered the incident.
I’ve rarely seen Butland so animated after conceding but he was furious at either full-back and understandably so. Tavernier was so, so passive and Jefte hadn’t clocked Halliday at all.
— Joshua Barrie (@JoshuaBarrieRR) November 3, 2024
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1 Comment
by TicToc
Tavernier, what a tosser, and doesn’t he look ‘disappointed’?
An’ that’s some petted lip for someone who pretends to be an adult and who plays for a company formed in 2012 that pretends to be the recently Liquidated Rangers FC. Walloper!